• Delivery II of Unit III

• Standard of Ventilation
Gassy seam of First Degree (Regulation 2(za) of
CMR 2017)

• Gassy seam of First degree means a coal seam or

part thereof lying within the precincts of a mine
not being an opencast working whether or not
inflammable gas is actually detected in the
general body of the air at any place in its
workings belowground, or when the percentage
of the inflammable gas, if and when detected, in
such general body of air does not exceed 0.1 and
the rate of emission of such gas does not exceed
one cubic meter per tonne of coal produced.
 Gassy seam of Second Degree (Regulation
2(zb) of CMR 2017)

• Gassy seam of Second degree means a coal

seam or part thereof lying within the precincts
of a mine not being an opencast working in
which the percentage of the inflammable gas
in the general body of air at any place in the
workings of the seam is more than 0.1 or the
rate of emission of inflammable gas per tonne
of coal produced exceeds one cubic meter but
does not exceed ten cubic meters.
Gassy seam of Third Degree (Regulation 2(zc)
of CMR 2017)

• Gassy seam of third degree means a coal seam

or part thereof lying within the precincts of a
mine not being an opencast working in which
the rate of emission of the inflammable gas
per tonne of coal produced exceeds ten cubic
meters.
General body of air (Regulation 2(zd) of CMR 2017)
• General body of air means the general
atmosphere in a coal seam and includes the
atmosphere in the roof cavities, but does not
include general atmosphere in the sealed off
areas or in borehole drilled in coal or in the
adjacent strata.
Standard of ventilation (Regulation 153 of the
Coal Mines Regulations 2017)

Regulation 153(1)- It shall be the duty of the

owner, agent or manager of every mine to take
such steps as are necessary to constantly provide
in all parts of the mine belowground which are
not sealed off, adequate ventilation to clear away
smoke, steam and dust, to dilute gases that are
inflammable or noxious so as to render them
harmless, to provide air containing sufficient
oxygen and to prevent such excessive rise of
temperature or humidity which may be harmful
to the health of persons.
 Standard of ventilation (Regulation 153 of the
Coal Mines Regulations 2017)…contd
Regulation 153(2)- For securing adequate
ventilation as specified in sub-regulation (1), the
owner, agent and manager shall ensure that –
(a) in every ventilating district, not less than six
cubic meters per minute of air per person
employed in the district on the largest shift or not
less than 2.5 cubic meters per minute of air per
tonne of daily output, whichever is larger, passes
along the last ventilation connection in the
district which means the in-bye most gallery in
the district along which the air passes;
Standard of ventilation (Regulation 153 of the
Coal Mines Regulations 2017)…contd
(b) at every place in the mine where persons are
required to work or pass, the air does not contain
less than 19 per cent. of oxygen or more than 0.5
per cent. of carbon dioxide or any noxious gas in
quantity likely to affect the health of any person;
(c) the percentage of inflammable gas does not
exceed 0.75 in the general body of the return air
of any ventilating district and 1.25 in any place in
the mine;
 Standard of ventilation (Regulation 153 of the
Coal Mines Regulations 2017)…contd
(d) the wet bulb temperature in any working place does
not exceed 33.5 degrees centigrade, and where the
wet bulb temperature exceeds 30.5 degrees
centigrade, arrangements are made to ventilate the
same with a current of air moving at a speed of not less
than one meter per second; and
(e) for ensuring compliance with the provisions of clauses
(b), (c) and (d) of this sub-regulation, air samples and
temperature readings shall be taken at least once in
every thirty days and the results shall be recorded in a
bound paged book kept for the purpose:
Standard of ventilation (Regulation 153 of the
Coal Mines Regulations 2017)…contd
Provided that at any mine or part, where
special conditions exist, the Chief Inspector
may, by an order in writing and subject to
such conditions as he may specify therein,
approve a ventilation scheme in variance with
the aforesaid provisions.
 Standard of ventilation (Regulation 153 of the
Coal Mines Regulations 2017)…contd
(3) In every mine, ventilation as specified in sub-
regulation (2) shall be produced by a suitable
mechanical ventilator.
(4) If with respect to any mine or part thereof the
Regional Inspector is of the opinion that the
ventilation is not adequate, he may by an order in
writing, require the installation and maintenance
of such mechanical ventilator as is capable of
producing adequate ventilation in the mine or
part.
Qualification and appointment of Ventilation officer
(Regulation 31 of CMR 2017)

Regulation 31- In every belowground mine

consisting of gassy seams of first degree, the
average output of which exceeds 5,000 tonnes or
of second or third degree the average output of
which exceeds 2,500 tonnes, the manager shall
be assisted in the work of supervising the
maintenance of ventilation system of the mine in
accordance with the provisions of these
regulations by a ventilation officer who shall be a
person holding the following qualifications,
namely:-
Qualification and appointment of Ventilation
officer (Regulation 31 of CMR 2017)
(a) in the case of a mine consisting of gassy seams
of first degree and having an average output in
excess of 15,000 tonnes or a mine consisting of
gassy seams of second or third degree and having
an average output in excess of 10,000 tonnes, a
Manager’s Certificate not restricted to open cast
mines only; and
(b) in every other case, a Manager’s Certificate
not restricted to opencast mines only or a Degree
or Diploma in Mining or Mining Engineering
recognised by the Central Government:
 Qualification and appointment of Ventilation
officer (Regulation 31 of CMR 2017)
• Provided that where special conditions exist,
the Chief Inspector may, by an order in writing
and subject to such conditions as he may
specify therein, permit or require the
appointment of a ventilation officer in
variance of these provisions or require the
appointment of such number of persons to
assist the ventilation officer, as may be
specified in the order:
 Qualification and appointment of Ventilation
officer (Regulation 31 of CMR 2017)
• Provided further that in the case of a mine
consisting of gassy seams of first degree and
having an average output less than 15,000
tonnes, the Chief Inspector may, considering
the nature and extent of workings therein,
permit, by an order in writing and subject to
such conditions as he may specify therein,
combine the post of ventilation officer with
that of safety officer appointed under
regulation 29.
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
(1) The ventilation officer shall- (a) ensure the
observance of all regulations and orders
concerning ventilation, spontaneous heating,
fire, gas and coal dust including dust
suppression and shall advise the manager, if
any alteration is required in the ventilation
system to ensure adequacy of ventilation in
compliance with these regulations or orders;
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
(b) advise the manager on day to day problems of
ventilation, gas, coal dust, spontaneous heating
and fire;
(c) maintain close liaison with the assistant
managers and other officials, and assist them in
their day-to-day ventilation problems;
(d) carry out ventilation surveys of the mine and
undertake any other special work relating thereto
as may be directed by the manager from time to
time;
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
(e) take such steps as are necessary to ensure
compliance with the ventilation standards
required in terms of these regulations or
otherwise;
(f) check the speed of main mechanical ventilator,
amperage drawn by its electric motor, and fan
drift water gauge at least once in a day and he
shall investigate any unusual change in the water
gauge and report to the manager;
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
(g) determine the efficiency of the main mechanical
ventilator once at least in every three months and
get the fan blades and the fan drift cleaned when
necessary;
(h) ensure that copies of standing orders in the
event of stoppage of the main mechanical
ventilator are posted at conspicuous places at the
mine, and also ensure that the persons
concerned understand the instructions contained
therein;
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
(i) ensure the correct siting and installation of auxiliary
and booster fans belowground;
(j) examine at frequent intervals all ventilation appliances
like doors, brattices, air crossings, regulators,
stoppings, booster and auxiliary fans, ventilation
ductings and other devices of ventilation control in
the mine and report any defect in the same to the
manager;
(k) take necessary steps to stop any leakage through any
of the devices and ensure that the ventilation
appliances are maintained in good order;
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
(l) ensure that sufficient quantity of good air is coursed
into all working places and reaches all workings
belowground, and for this purpose, shall –
(i) see that the ventilation stoppings, brattices, etc., are
constructed as per specifications and are kept
extended sufficiently;
(ii) see that measurements of air quantity, temperature
and humidity are regularly taken as specified and
bring up-to-date the entries on the check boards
provided at each air measurement station;
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
(iii) determine the Ventilation Efficiency
Quotient (VEQ);
(iv) see that mine air samples are properly
collected at the appointed time and place, and
analysed within forty-eight hours of taking
thereof; and
(v) make observations for inflammable and any
other harmful gases;
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
(m) maintain separate tracing of the ventilation,
rescue, stone dusting and the dust sampling
plans and bring them up-to-date;
(n) bring to the notice of surveyor any changes
in the ventilation system or ventilation
appliances and shall ensure that all old
markings on the ventilation and rescue plans
are corrected and new ventilation circuits are
shown forthwith;
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
(o) regularly check the barometer provided at
the mine and report any unusual change in
barometric pressure to the manager for
appropriate actions;
(p) take care of the instruments and apparatus
used in the mines for environmental
monitoring and ensure that all such
instruments are maintained in good order and
calibrated at specified intervals;
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
(q) regularly visit returns of working districts and
old workings including fire stoppings, if
necessary, for symptoms of spontaneous
heating and fire and report to the manager
forthwith any such symptoms observed by
him and shall himself take such steps as may
be immediately necessary for the safety of the
workers;
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
• (r) check the fire fighting measures and take necessary
steps by regular rehearsals to ensure that all fire
fighting equipments are maintained in working order
and the concerned staff are fit and conversant with
their duties in the event of a fire in the mine;
• (s) take necessary steps for proper cleaning, treatment
and suppression of coal dust in the mine and see that
the arrangements for wet-cutting at the faces and
water spraying at and within ninety meters of the
working places are properly installed and function
satisfactorily;
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
• (t) ensure that the stone dust barriers are
correctly sited, properly constructed and
maintained in accordance with the statutory
requirements or otherwise; and bring the entries
on the check boards up-to-date from time to
time;
• (u) ensure that samples of mine roadway dust
and of airborne dust (if required by the manager)
are regularly taken in the specified manner;
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
(v) collect air samples from sealed off areas,
exhaust gases from diesel vehicles and from
such other places as may be required by the
manager;
(w) ensure that all records and reports relating
to ventilation, spontaneous heating, fire, gas
and coal dust are kept up-to-date and entries
are made regularly in the check boards for
ventilation and stone dust barriers:
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
Provided that nothing contained above shall
exempt the manager, assistant manager,
surveyor, overman, sirdar or any other
competent person concerned, from any
corresponding duties and responsibilities
specified for them in these regulations or any
orders made thereunder; and
(x) assist the manager in any matter relating to
the ventilation of the mine.
 Duties of Ventilation Officer (Regulation 46 of
CMR 2017)
(2) No duties other than those specified above
shall be assigned to the ventilation officer
except in an emergency.
(3) The ventilation officer shall maintain, in a
bound paged book, a detailed record of the
work performed by him every day.
 Conditions for carbonmonoxide and oxides of
nitrogen (DGMS Cir 30 of 1973 & Circular
Technical 4 of 1984)
• For First degree of gassiness, in the section where
solid blasting is to be done, ventilation shall be
adequate enough to ensure at least 284 cubic
metres of air per minute at the last ventilation
connection.
Tests for inflammable gas shall be made at and
within a radius of 20 metres of the place of firing
with an approved type of methanometer by
Assistant Manager/Overman and no shot shall be
fired if 0.10% or more inflammable gas is found at
any place in the said zone.
•
 Conditions for carbonmonoxide and oxides of
nitrogen (DGMS Cir 30 of 1973 & Circular
Technical 4 of 1984)…contd
• The ventilation shall also be adequate enough to
ensure dilution of Carbon monoxide and Oxides
or Nitrogen in blasting fumes to less than 50
parts per million and 5 parts per million
respectively, within a period of 5 minutes. In
addition, no person shall be allowed to re-enter
the place where blasting operation has been
done with these explosives unless blasting fumes
are cleared and unless a period of at least 15
minutes has elapsed from the time of blasting.
 Precaution against dust (Regulation 143)
• (2) For the purposes of this regulation, a place shall not
be deemed to be in a harmless state for person to work
or pass or remain therein if the eight hours time-
weighted average concentration of airborne respirable
dust in milligrams per cubic meter of air sampled by
dust sampler of a type approved by and determined in
accordance with the procedure as specified by the
Chief Inspector by a general or special order, exceeds
two, where working is being made wholly in a coal
seam or where free respirable silica present is less than
five per cent. and the value arrived at by dividing the
figures of ten with the percentage of free respirable
silica present in other cases.